Roll mills



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. ROLL MILLS Filed March 12', 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HERE!!! II BEE!!!"huh,

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March 15, 1955 E. A. SCHWARZ ROLL MILLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 12,1951 V INVENTOR.

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United States Patent ROLL MILLS Eugene A. Schwarz, Snyder, N. Y.,assignor to The Squier Corporation, a corporation of New YorkApplication March 12, 1951, Serial No. 215,121

Claims. (Cl. 100-163) This invention relates to improvements inapparatus or roll mills for pressing materials such as sugar cane, treebark, and others, in which the upper roll is pressed against two or morelower rolls, and in which a turnplate is used to deflect the materialfrom the bight between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls intothe bight between the upper roll and another lower roll.

In mills of this type, the turnplate is subject to wear and to damage bythe material passing between the rolls to a greater extent than otherparts of the mill, and consequently, it becomes necessary at intervalsto remove the turnplate and either to repair the same or replace 1t withanother turnplate. This in the past has necessitated a partialdisassembly of the mill, such as the removal of the upper housing partsand raising the upper roll to a sufficient extent so that the turnplatecould be raised sufliciently to enable the turnplate to be lifted topass between the upper roll and one of the lower rolls. Since thesemills are generally of large size, considerable difiiculty and delay wasencountered when a turnplate had to be removed. Such a delay isparticularly objectionable to the mill owner if the turnplate must beremoved during the time that the sugar cane is being harvested or whenthe pressing of other materials is urgent.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a roll mill which isconstructed to enable a turnplate to be qulckly removed and replaced. Afurther object 1s to provide a roll mill having a bearing housing, whichis so constructed that when the upper roll is raised, it Wlll affordaccess to the turnplate to permit inspection and removal of the same.Another object is to provide a roll mill with a bearing housing which isso constructed that the turnplate may be removed in the direction of itslength from the mill. A further object is to provide a roll mill whichis so constructed that the turnplate may be removed from a side of themill without shifting or removing any parts of the bearing housings ofthe mill. A further object is to construct the bearing housings of aroll mill so that the turnplate may be removed through an opening ofeither housing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription of one embodiment of the 1I1V6D.t1011 and the novel featureswill be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connectiog with theappended claims.

In the accompanying rawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a roll mill embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, on line 2-2, Fig. 3, butshowing the upper roll elevated and the turnplate in position to beremoved in the direction of its len th.

l ig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof, the section being taken online 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary transverse sectional elevation withparts of the mill omitted and showing the turnplate being removed fromthe mill.

#In the accompanying drawings, the improvements embodying this inventionare illustrated by way of example as applied to a three roll mill of thetype which may be used for expressing liquids from sugar cane, treebark, wood chips and other materials. This roll null as illustratedincludes an upper roll 6 and two lower rolls 7 and 8. The rolls may beof any suitable or usual construction and are provided with the usualcircumferential grooves 9 arranged on the rolls in such manner that theannular peaks or projections of the lower rolls enter into the grooves 9of the upper roll. The upper roll may also be "ice provided at its endswith the usual flanges 10 between which the peripheral portions of thelower rolls extend to hold the rolls in correct operative relation toeach other.

The upper and lower rolls are provided respectively with roll shafts 11and 12 which extend beyond the ends of the rolls and which arejournalled in suitable bearing housings arranged at the opposite ends ofthe rolls. These bearing housings may be of the general type shown in mycopending application, Ser. No. 207,885 filed January 26, 1951, and eachincludes a lower housing member 15 and an upper housing member 16. Theshafts 12 of the lower rolls are journalled in bearings 17, one side ofeach of which is formed to rest on guide surfaces formed on an upwardlyextending middle portion 18 of the lower housing member. The upperhousing member 16 is of substantially inverted V-shape or of A-shape asclearly shown in Fig. l. The upper housing member 16, consequently, hastwo downwardly extending inclined legs, the lower ends of which may besecured to the lower housing member 15 in any suitable or desiredmanner, for example, as shown in the patent to Faber No. 1,810,102 ofJune 16, 1931. The inner surfaces of the downwardly extending legs haveguide surfaces 19 which cooperate with the bearings 17 for the lowerroll shafts, these bearings being adjustable lengthwise of the guidesurfaces 19 and the corresponding guide surfaces of the lower housingmember. The upper housing member is provided in the middle portionthereof with an upwardly extending recess 19a terminating at a distancefrom the upper end of this housing member and being provided at oppositesides of the recess with guides 20 for the bearing for the upper rollshaft 11. This bearing may be of any suitable or desired construction,that shown being made of upper and lower parts 22 and 23 which may besuitably connected to each other in any suitable or desired manner, forexample, by means of bolts or screws 24, Fig. 1.

The upper housing member is also provided with the usual hydraulic orpower actuated mechanism for pressing the upper roll downwardly againstthe lower rolls 7 and 8, and this hydraulic mechanism as shown by way ofexample includes a cylinder having an upper bore 25 in which a piston 26may reciprocate. The cylinder is closed at its upper end by a removableclosure member or cap 25a. Fluid under pressure may pass to and from theupper portion of the cylinder through a suitable pipe or duct 28extending through the cap 25a for urging the piston 26 downwardlyagainst the upper bearing member 22. These pistons in the two bearinghousings act on the upper roll shaft 11 to force the upper rolldownwardly against the lower rolls. The hydraulic mechanism alsoincludes means for raismg the upper roll, and for this purpose in theconstruction illustrated by way of example, the cylinder in the upperhousing member 16 is provided with a bore 30 of reduced diameter inwhich a portion of the piston of reduced diameter operates.Consequently, by admitting fluid under pressure through a pipe orconduit 31 and by discharging fluid under pressure from the portion ofthe cylinder above the piston 26, the fluid pressure may react againstthe shoulder of the piston joining the two portions thereof of differentdiameters and thus raise the piston. The piston is provided near thelower end thereof with an annular groove 32 and the upper bearing part22 is provided with holding members 34 rigidly secured to the upperbearing member 22 and having lips or flanges extending loosely into thegroove 32 so that when the pistons in the two housing members are raisedby the fluid pressure entering the conduit 31, the bearing parts 22 and23, the shaft 11 and the upper roll 6 will also be raised. By means ofthis construction, the upper roll 6 is mounted entirely on the upperhousing member and when raised as described, the weight of the upperroll and its bearings is supported from the lower housing member onlythrough the inclined legs of the upper member.

Roll mills of this type are provided with turnplates which scrape thematerial from one of the lower rolls and deflect the same into the bightbetween the upper roll and the other lower roll. 36 represents aturnplate of this type, which as clearly shown in Fig. 4 is provided atthe leading edge thereof with teeth or projections 37 formed to enterinto the grooves of one of the lower rolls. In the construction shown,it is assumed that the material to be pressed enters from the left inFig. 1, into the bight between the upper roll and the lower roll 7, andconsequently, the leading edge of the turnplate will be in contact withthe surface of the lower roll 7, and the curved upper surface of theturnplate deflects material from the roll 7 into the bight between theupper roll 6 and the other lower roll 8. The turnplate is securelymounted to resist the force exerted on the same by the materialdischarged from the bight between the rolls 6 and 7, and in theconstruction shown for this purpose, the turnplate is mounted on theupper end of a turnplate beam 40. This beam may be provided at its upperend with means for accurately locating and holding the turnplate on itsbeam, such for example as a groove or recess 41, and the lower face ofthe turnplate is provided with a longitudinal rib or key 42 formed toenter into the groove 41.

The turnplate 36 may be securely fastened to the turnplate beam 40 inany suitable or desired manner, and in the construction shown for thispurpose, the turnplate beam is provided with a plurality of uprightbores or holes through which bolts 44 may pass. The upper ends of thesebolts are threaded to enter into threaded aper tures 45 in theturnplate, extending upwardly from the lower surface thereof. By meansof these bolts, the turnplate may be securely fastened to the upper partof the turnplate beam 40.

Since it is necessary to adjust the turnplate toward and from the lowerroll with which it cooperates, the turnplate beam 40 is suitably mountedon the bearing housings in such a manner as to make this adjustmentpossible. In the construction shown, the two bearing housings areprovided on their inner faces with inwardly extending pivots ortrunnions 47 and the turnplate beam is provided with suitable bearingparts 48 preferably formed integral therewith and formed to seat on thestuds or trunnions 47. The turnplate beam may be adjusted to swing aboutthe pivots in any suitable or desired manner. In the constructionillustrated, the turnplate beam is provided at opposite sides thereofwith upwardly extending slots or recesses 50 and shafts 51 are mountedto oscillate in apertures in the lower bearing housing members 15. Theends of the shafts 51 are provided with cranks or eccentric pins 52formed to engage in the slots 50. The outer ends of the shafts 51 areeach rigidly secured to one end of an arm 54, and the other ends ofthese arms may be pivoted to adjusting rods 55 and 56. The outer ends ofthese rods are threaded and extend through lugs 57 formed on the lowerbearing housing member and by means of nuts 58, the adjusting rods 55and 56 may be moved in such a manner as to swing the arms 54 and theshafts 51 connected therewith so that the cranks or eccentric pins 52operating in the slots or recesses 50 in the turnplate beam will swingthe beam as desired. Any other means for adiusting the turnplaterelativelv to the rolls mav be provided, if desired.

It will be noted particularly that the construction of the bearinghousings is such that the middle portions 18 of the lower housingmembers terminate at a level below that of the turnplate 36, so that theends of the turnplate are readily accessible through the space above themiddle portions 18. By mounting the upper roll so that the same can beraised out of its operative position and disconnecting the turnplatefrom its su porting beam, the turnplate can be raised so that the teethor projections 37 will clear the grooves or recesses in the lower roll7. Also the upper roll may be raised to a sufiicient extent so that theflanges thereof will be above the level of the upper surface of theturnplate when the same is raised out of engagement with the lower roll7 and its beam 40. The turnplate can then be removed in the direction ofits length through the open space provided in either of the two bearinghousings.

In order to facilitate the removal of the turnplate, some means arepreferably provided whereby the turnplate can be lifted from theturnplate beam and out of engagement with the grooves in the roll 7, andremoved endwise through the opening in either housing. This may, forexample, be accomplished by providing the turnplate in one or both endsthereof with threaded holes 60, and a bar or rod 61 having threaded endsmay be screwed into each of these holes. Consequently, if

the turnplate is not too heavy, only one rod need be used so that a manmay lift the turnplate and move it endwise through the opening in eitherbearing housing after the turnplate has been disconnected from its beam.In the case of large roll mills, both bars or rods 61 are employed atopposite ends of the turnplate so that men at opposite sides of themachine may remove the turnplate. Since the rib 42 of the turnplate maytend to bind in the groove 41 in the turnplate beam, the bolts 44 arepreferably initially only partly unscrewed from the threaded holes 45 ofthe turnplate, whereupon by means of upwardly directed hammer blows onthe lower ends of the bolts, the turnplate can be forced upwardly clearof the groove 41, whereupon the bolts are completely unscrewed from theturnplate so that the same may be removed by means of the bars or rods61.

In prior constructions, when it became necessary to remove a turnplate,it was necessary to release the upper bearing housing members and liftthe same clear of the roll mill. It was then necessary to raise theupper roll sufiiciently so that the turnplate could be removed laterallywith reference to its length through the space between the upper rolland one of the lower rolls. By means of my improved construction, theupper housing members 16 may be left in their operative positions whilethe turnplate is being removed and the upper roll need be raised onlysufficiently, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that the turnplate is clearof the rolls and of the turnplate beam 40, and this is effected bydisconnecting the pipe or conduit 28 from the supply of fluid underpressure and connecting the pipe or conduit 31 with such fluid,whereupon the piston will be easily raised and held in such raisedposition as long as desired. In replacing the turnplate, the rods orbars 61 are screwed into the ends of the turnplate and one of these barsor rods is passed through the openings in the two housings from one sideof the mill so that it can be grasped at the other side thereof,whereupon the turnplate can readily be positioned as required, and bymeans of the bolts 44, the turnplate can be pulled down into itsoperative relation to the turnplate beam 40.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials,and arrangements of parts which have been herein described andillustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be madeby those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of theinvention, as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, aturnplate between said lower rolls, a bearing housing at each end ofsaid rolls, each housing including a lower housing member on which saidlower rolls are journalled and an upper housing member supported on saidlower housing member and on which said upper roll is journalled, thatimprovement in which said lower housing members have their middleportions spaced below the level of said turnplate, means on said bearinghousings for raising said upper roll to permit removal of said turnplatein a direction lengthwise of said rolls through the space above saidmiddle portion of a lower housing member, and a rod having its endformed to be rigidly and removably secured to an end of said tumplatefor raising said turnplate and moving the same in the direction of itslen th through said space.

2. A roll mill according to claim 1, in which an end of said turnplateis provided with a threaded a erture in which the end of said rod mayengage for lifting said turnplate and moving the same lengthwise throughsaid space.

3. A roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, bearinghousings at opposite ends of said rolls, each of said bearing housingsincluding a lower housing member, bearings supported by said lowerhousing member on which said lower rolls are iournalled, an upperhousing member having a pair of downwardly and outwardly inclined legs,the lower ends of which are secured to the end portions of said lowerhousing member, bearings for said upper roll, guides on said upperhousing member on which said bearings for said upper roll are movablevertically, a turnplate beam mounted on said lower housing members, aturnplate removably secured to the upper portion of said beam andarranged below said upper roll and between said lower rolls, the middleportions of said lower housing members extending upwardly between saidbearings of said lower rolls and terminating below the level of thelower portion of said upper roll, a hydraulic mechanism mounted on eachupper housing member and including a piston having an upper face againstwhich fluid pressure may act and which is connected with said bearingsfor said upper roll for forcing said upper roll toward said lower rolls,said piston also having a lower surface against which fluid pressure mayact to move said bearings upwardly to raise said upper roll suflicientlyto permit said turnplate to be removed from said roll mill in adirection substantially parallel to said rolls through the space betweensaid middle portion of said lower housing member and the lower portionof said upper roll.

4. In a roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls,bearing housings at opposite ends of said rolls on which said rolls arejournalled, and a turnplate mounted on said housings and arrangedbetween the upper portions of said lower rolls, that improvement inwhich said housings are provided with openings substantially inalinement with said turnplate, and means mounted on said housings forraising said upper roll to provide between said upper roll and saidlower rolls suflicient clearance to permit said turnplate to be movedinto and out of operative relation to said lower rolls and in thedirection of its length through the opening in one of said housingmembers, a rod, and cooperating connecting means on said rod and an endof said turnplate for rigidly and removably connecting said rod with anend of said turnplate, for moving said turnplate into and out ofoperative relation to said roll mill.

5. A roll mill having an upper roll and a pair of lower rolls, bearinghousings at opposite ends of said rolls, each of said bearing housingsincluding a lower housing member having an upwardly extending middleportion, bearings supported by said lower housing member on which saidlower rolls are journalled, an upper housing member having a pair ofdownwardly and outwardly inclined legs, means for securing the lowerends of said upper housing member to said lower housing member, bearingsfor said upper roll slidably mounted on said upper housing member formovement toward and from said lower roll bearings, a turnplate beamadjustably mounted on said lower housing member, a turnplate secured tothe upper portion of said beam, said middle portions of said lowerhousing members terminating below the level of said turnplate, saidlower roll bearings being supported in part by said middle portions ofsaid lower housing members, and means on said bearing housings forraising said upper roll to permit said turnplate to be removed from saidroll mill in a direction substantially parallel to said rolls.

